DARREN BENT is set to miss Sunderland’s clash with Wigan this weekend with a hamstring problem – and the Black Cats’ leading scorer could be out of action for three weeks.

Bent was clearly struggling with the injury in the latter stages of Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Arsenal at the weekend, in which the England striker scored his ninth goal of the season.

And Sunderland boss Steve Bruce revealed today that Bent has gone for a scan on the injury, and is likely to be out of action for the trip to the DW Stadium on Saturday.

Bruce said: “Darren has gone away for a scan and we’re not expecting the results back until Thursday or Friday, but there is a real worry that it is a hamstring strain rather than just severe cramp.

“If that turns out to be the case then we are looking at losing him for a minimum of three weeks.

“And if we are to lose him, then hopefully it’s only for three weeks because I don’t have to tell anyone how important a player he is to us.”

If Bent is ruled out, ex-Wigan chief Bruce will call upon Fraizer Campbell to lead Sunderland’s attack against the Latics.

Meanwhile, Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole has defended Bruce after a bizarre attack from his old boss at Wigan, Dave Whelan.

Wigan suffered a humiliating 9-1 defeat at Spurs on Sunday, and Latics chairman Whelan tried to take some of the pressure off his manager Roberto Martinez by saying Bruce was partly to blame for that scoreline.

Whelan claimed that Bruce had made some ‘dodgy signings’ while in charge of Wigan and left the club ‘weak in reserves’.

But Cattermole, who played under Bruce at Wigan before following him to Wearside, said: “I like Dave Whelan. I think he’s a good chairman – a footballing chairman – but I don’t understand where he is coming from with this.

“When you look at the guys Steve bought for Wigan, you just can’t argue with his record – Wilson Palacios, Antonio Valencia – they were sold for big, big money.

“Not everyone’s going to be a big hit, but I can’t understand Dave Whelan attacking the gaffer.

“I think he is just trying to take the heat off the new manager.

“You look at the signings the gaffer made at Wigan and, to be honest, I thought they were all good.”

Cattermole will miss out on a return to his old club as he continues to recover from knee ligament damage.